Water-Cooling Systems Roundup: 16 Systems Reviewed

TechZ · March 31st, 2006, 12:39 PM

Today we are going to offer you an unprecedented collection of 16 water-cooling systems from such well-known names as Asetek, Aucma, CoolerMaster, Gigabyte, Promodz, Thermaltake, Titan, Zalman and 3RSystem. Find out what systems are the best buy for the buck today from the most extensive roundup out there!

If you were using a traditional air cooler through the winter and were quite satisfied with its noise and performance characteristics, you may find yourself having to increase the fan speed in the warmer weather to improve the cooling. The noise from the cooler increases at that, too, probably up to an uncomfortable level.

LINK: xbitlabs.com

bone · March 31st, 2006, 02:44 PM

crap, didn't notice it was the technology section, and i was expecting an intersting topic images/smilies/sad.gif

Overheat · March 31st, 2006, 03:55 PM

I personally think water-cooling is dead in the water (heh) - with HSFs as good as the Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro for such a tiny percentage of the price of water-cooling - there's little value in it in my eyes.

Kip_6666 · March 31st, 2006, 04:12 PM

I've got this kit:

http://www.1a-cooling-shop.de/shop/index_set99eur.htm

Its quiet, cools better than any hsf out there, and neat to brag about :p

But seriously, it is expensive, and while it does cool better it by a slim percentage, and its hard to tell if that little percentage is worth it.

I've had it for quite a while now, since the athlon xp days, with new platforms you normally have to get a new hsf while i could just keep using the set. But then on the other hand you can get boxed cpus for a fraction more, and the hsf you get with those are fine.

TechZ · April 1st, 2006, 09:27 AM

Only 2 reasons now to go watercooling IMO

1] You want a totally silent setup, watercooling gives you that

2] You want to OC.

Now, for me, the former poses a much better choice than the latter, I dont OC.

Shadowness · April 1st, 2006, 10:14 AM

I was hoping my system would be on there, but it aint. Im using a Koolance Exos external water cooling system. Its awesome! I can OC my athlon pretty high. My cpu idles at about 35C, which might seem quite high, but the PC is in a corner and under a desk, so theres not much circulation!

Vette Boss · April 1st, 2006, 06:04 PM

At it's current state, watercooling isn't really better than a good heatsink and fan combination. When you look at the risk of a water leak taking out your whole rig, it's something most people would rather avoid. With a good heatsink and fan combination and a fan controller, you can have a very quiet system that is stable 24/7. Crank the fans up and you're ready for some OC-ing.

Both cooling systems, air and water, have extremes, silent air-cooling doesn't perform as well and neither does silent water-cooling. Water cooling doesn't really help with OC-ing unless it's a set-up with loud fans, a well-thought air-cooling set-up will OC just as far.

March 31st, 2006, 12:39 PM	#1
TechZ Captain Internet Joined: Dec 19th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Bahrain Age: 24 Posts: 2,425 Car: Audi TT '08 Rep Power: 164	Water-Cooling Systems Roundup: 16 Systems Reviewed Today we are going to offer you an unprecedented collection of 16 water-cooling systems from such well-known names as Asetek, Aucma, CoolerMaster, Gigabyte, Promodz, Thermaltake, Titan, Zalman and 3RSystem. Find out what systems are the best buy for the buck today from the most extensive roundup out there! If you were using a traditional air cooler through the winter and were quite satisfied with its noise and performance characteristics, you may find yourself having to increase the fan speed in the warmer weather to improve the cooling. The noise from the cooler increases at that, too, probably up to an uncomfortable level. LINK: xbitlabs.com __________________ techzonline.net

March 31st, 2006, 02:44 PM	#2
bone "bangle for president" Joined: Jan 14th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: belgium!! Age: 24 Posts: 6,085 Car: yamaha banshee (and an opel astra from work) Rep Power: 29	crap, didn't notice it was the technology section, and i was expecting an intersting topic __________________ groups/artists i've seen live: coldplay, the cure, cypress hill, damian marley, deftones, depeche mode, dEUS, franz ferdinand, grandaddy, guns n' roses, interpol, jamiroquai, korn, lenny kravits, marilyn manson, massive attack, metallica, moby, muse, the pixies, placebo, prodigy, queens of the stone age, the raconteurs, radiohead, red hot chili peppers, REM, skin, tool, the who, Wu-Tang and so many more...

March 31st, 2006, 03:55 PM	#3
Overheat Joined: Sep 7th, 2004 Last Online: September 30th, 2008 Location: Bradford, UK Posts: 5,735 Rep Power: 25	I personally think water-cooling is dead in the water (heh) - with HSFs as good as the Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro for such a tiny percentage of the price of water-cooling - there's little value in it in my eyes. __________________

March 31st, 2006, 04:12 PM	#4
Kip_6666 I Bought This Title :o Joined: May 17th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: The Netherlands Age: 23 Posts: 2,967 Car: Saab 93 2.0t @ stage 3 now Rep Power: 31	I've got this kit: http://www.1a-cooling-shop.de/shop/index_set99eur.htm Its quiet, cools better than any hsf out there, and neat to brag about :p But seriously, it is expensive, and while it does cool better it by a slim percentage, and its hard to tell if that little percentage is worth it. I've had it for quite a while now, since the athlon xp days, with new platforms you normally have to get a new hsf while i could just keep using the set. But then on the other hand you can get boxed cpus for a fraction more, and the hsf you get with those are fine. __________________ http://www.internet-memes.com My Flickr

April 1st, 2006, 09:27 AM	#5
TechZ Captain Internet Joined: Dec 19th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Bahrain Age: 24 Posts: 2,425 Car: Audi TT '08 Rep Power: 164	Only 2 reasons now to go watercooling IMO 1] You want a totally silent setup, watercooling gives you that 2] You want to OC. Now, for me, the former poses a much better choice than the latter, I dont OC. __________________ techzonline.net

April 1st, 2006, 10:14 AM	#6
Shadowness Joined: Jun 20th, 2005 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Age: 21 Posts: 1,057 Car: RenaultSport Clio 182FF Rep Power: 22	I was hoping my system would be on there, but it aint. Im using a Koolance Exos external water cooling system. Its awesome! I can OC my athlon pretty high. My cpu idles at about 35C, which might seem quite high, but the PC is in a corner and under a desk, so theres not much circulation! __________________ Photo gallery----> http://www.danfreemanphotography.com/

April 1st, 2006, 06:04 PM	#7
Vette Boss Joined: Nov 14th, 2004 Last Online: 05:02 AM Location: United States, Britain, in time Age: 23 Posts: 3,027 Car: Nissan Altima 3.5-litre SE Rep Power: 36	At it's current state, watercooling isn't really better than a good heatsink and fan combination. When you look at the risk of a water leak taking out your whole rig, it's something most people would rather avoid. With a good heatsink and fan combination and a fan controller, you can have a very quiet system that is stable 24/7. Crank the fans up and you're ready for some OC-ing. Both cooling systems, air and water, have extremes, silent air-cooling doesn't perform as well and neither does silent water-cooling. Water cooling doesn't really help with OC-ing unless it's a set-up with loud fans, a well-thought air-cooling set-up will OC just as far. __________________ 2003 Nissan Altima 3.5SE SHIFT_the future

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